Family Time: Cleaning keeps homes healthy for people and pets

Tuesday

Click inside to see the weekly family rail, with tips on keeping your home clean when you have pets, a review of “How to Train Your Dragon” and more. Or follow the links below.

Tip of the Week

Many of the same volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and irritants found in home air affect the health of your pet as much as they affect your family. Adding an air purifier will reduce the amount of pollutants and irritants circulating through the home, allowing people and pets alike to breathe a little easier (and cleaner). Air purification systems like the Idyllis line also have added benefits for pet-loving households - they dilute odors.

Many of the most popular pets have the potential to aggravate allergies. Even if you aren't allergic, animal dander (hair or skin flakes) can be a bother. Pet dander can remain on floors, walls and ceilings months or years after the animal has left the house. Frequently vacuuming the home will eliminate some of the dander and allergens left behind.

If allergies are an issue in your home, there are steps you can take to curb the problem. Regular baths and grooming for your pets will go a long way in keeping family members healthy and allergen-free. While you're washing your pet, start to think about cleaning other parts of the home pets may inhabit. Throw your pet's bed and toys in the laundry once a week to keep away fleas and dust mites and to cut down on dander.

Pay attention to your floors, where dirt can get ground in or collect in corners. Scrub the carpet with a carpet shampoo to remove any pet stains and wipe down wood floors.

Synopsis: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely owner of a young dragon himself and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.

Violence/scary rating: 2.5

Sexual-content rating: 1

Profanity rating: 1.5

Drugs/alcohol rating: 1

Family Time rating: 2. In addition to being critically approved, this is an excellent family film.

(Ratings are judged on a five-point scale, with 5 being “bad for kids” and 1 being “fine for kids.”)

Book Report

“Fading Echoes (Warriors: Omen of the Stars Series),” by Erin Hunter

Ages: 9-12

Pages: 296

Synopsis: After the sharp-eyed Jay and the roaring Lion, peace will come on Dove's gentle wing. Three ThunderClan cats, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw, are prophesied to hold the power of the stars in their paws. Now they must work together to unravel the meaning behind the ancient words of the prophecy. As Jayfeather tackles his new responsibilities as the Clan's sole medicine cat and Lionblaze trains his apprentice in the ways of the warrior cats, Dovepaw hones her own unique ability and tries to use it for the good of ThunderClan. But the dark shadows that have preyed on the Clan for many moons still lurk just beyond the forest. Soon a mysterious visitor will walk in one cat's dreams, whispering promises of greatness, with results that will change the future of ThunderClan in ways that no cat could have foreseen.

Did You Know

If you still want/need a swine flu shot, you should be able to get one, and the CDC is urging people to do so.

GateHouse News Service

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